.tiny moments of pleasure.

A childhood friend is driving from our hometown in Central Washington back to her home in Chicago this week. She passed thru Idaho last night and we met up for dinner. It was so lovely to catch up in that deep unspoken way that comes from having a childhood in the same place. She brought me a huge bag of fresh picked bing cherries from her family's orchard. A true summer treat!! Today was so so so hot, I made myself a fresh cherry milkshake and had a flash memory of my sweet Nana several years ago in her later stages of dementia. She wouldn't really eat except for fresh cherry shakes and french fries, those were her favorites. One hot summer day my mom and I drove her out to her favorite fruit stand with the best fresh cherry shakes in town. We sat down in the shaded picnic area and I was talking to my mom when I heard a loud slurping noise and looked up to see that noise was coming from my sweet southern belle Nana. I thought of that today with my shake and realized how even as she was fading from us and herself she still had those sweet tiny moments of pleasure.

Life is so unexpected and impermanent - we aren't granted anything, just tiny moments connected together - some are ecstatic, some are warming, some are exciting, some are challenging, some are bittersweet, some are shattering and some make our hearts expand bigger and wide than ever imagined.

This memory reminded me to continue to seek these tiny sweet moments of pleasure in my life. I hope so dearly that you are finding tiny moments of pleasure in your life.

.where I'm from.

A few weeks ago I went back to Washington, my home state for a few days for a dear friends' wedding after a year and that was only for 2 days so it's really been 2 years since I have spent a good amount of time in Washington. I was excited to see what it felt like to be in Washington. What would the year on the East Coast feel like - would I feel/see the difference in my reflection against the PNW background?

I did. It felt different. It felt quiet. There was a solitude, which felt big and a little lonely to my east coast layers. Then we went for a hike up castle rock and there it was - that feeling - that energy - that belonging. If there's anything that reminds me of where I am from it's those desert hues of the sage foothills. Maybe it's not my home but those are the hills that raised me - the hills that taught me to feel inspirations - the hills that calm me - the hills I use to whisper my secrets to - the hills that fill my soul with the urge to create - those hills are my cleansing ocean wave in the the arid inland terrain.

What gives you that urge? Overflows your soul? Energizes your whole being? Where do you find that? I'd love to hear!!

.the road home.

The road home - over the mountains down into the valley.

.Wild Sage.

The sun has seemed a little shy here - not wanting to fully commit - coming out now and again but spring is here. I'm spending my days finding a new and old places to explore and everywhere I go there is this familiar, comforting, invigorating scent of wild big sagebrush (I've been mentioning it a lot lately...). It has been so healing and centering during this seasonal and personal transition that I have decided to offer something new in my etsy shop, sage bundles! I'm really excited to share something so special.

You can use the sage bundle fresh, placed in a bathroom to invigorate your shower or bath, placed in a living space to add it's rich earthy smell, or burnt as a smudge to cleanse an area and embrace this new season (transition).

Find the sage bundles here in the etsy shop.

Happy Spring to you and yours.

.prairie wheat fields.

I got lost yesterday in the prairie wheat fields - where the same vista is repeated for miles and miles - copy and pasted onto the earth. I rode deep into the fields and down into the canyon only to reemerge feeling totally disillusioned with where I was. I started to ride back towards a tower - the tower - on rocky muddy roads for miles to find that the tower wasn't the tower. The tower was miles north - across an undulating wheat field. Or was that even it?

I find it easy to believe illusions - to second guess myself - to travel in circles before stopping to listen for my voice - before asking for help. I'm out of practice with vulnerability. 

I decided to walk my bike across the wheat fields - over the woven drilled rows - finding the soft rolling hills to be steep - encompassed by the overpowering wind of flat lands - tired and frustrated. There are so many lessons in getting lost. 

I'm grateful to be reminded that the only way to get to the tower (somewhere/something) is to go forward, to do the work.

"Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.
Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness"

Dr. Brene Brown

.discovery.

I went for a hike yesterday - up into the hills to see the contrast of winter colors and the coming of spring growth. The washed out colors next to the newness almost seemed electric in their contrast. The clouds clung to the mountain and in weather unusual to the dry central Washington - a light mist came watering the Big sagebrush giving the air an invigorating earthy smell - a healing aroma of new life - spring. 

Big sagebrush grows wild (and rampant) in the foothills here. A plant that has given much to the people of this land with its many uses - ceremonially being placed in sweat lodges to alleviate respiratory ailments and/or to cleanse the air with its invigorating scent. It can help soothe the sting of mosquito bites. As well as, a natural dye - making a bright yellow hue. 

As I climbed higher into the mountains I noticed the vibrant fuchsia buds on the Big sagebrush leaves - galls. The Big sagebrush leaf produces this fuzzy fuchsia gall as a reaction to the burrowed larva of an insect - nature is so amazing.

I felt lost in my own land. A reminder of how much newness can be discovered from the known. I hope you go out and discover - today - this weekend - this week - this spring.

.spring ridin.

Spring is here.
The sun is out.
Bianchi Blue and I are hitting the road, everyday.

LOOK AT THE VIEW.

It feels so good to be back riding. Are you enjoying spring riding? If not, here are some tips from Bike Shop Girl to get you out rollin!!

1.) Get your bike ready

This could be a full service tune up or simply pumping up the tires, lubing the chain and giving it a once over. Either way, get your bike ready for that next warm day!

2.) Get yourself ready

This weekend an action item on my to-do list is to sort out my bike clothing. This includes being ready for some not so perfect days, but knowing where my gloves, shoe covers and possibly rain jacket is. That way I’m not searching for my left glove 15 minutes before my group ride is supposed to leave!

3.) Short trips are better than no trips

If you need motivation, ride to the coffee shop or friends house. Your first rides back on the bike don’t need to be epic, they need to be easy and familiar.

4.) Motivate yourself

Maybe you need a new gadget for your bike, or maybe you need to outline your cycling goals. Either way, put a carrot in front of yourself and bring on the motivation!

5.) Do it

Seriously, just get on your bike. You’ll thank me later.

Happy riding to you!

.sunday night rides.

Today I am open to the presence of miracles.

(The Chopra Meditation Challenge starts today!) 

i went for a long ride sunday night (and thankfully got back before the flash flood warning went into affect). 

i live in a beautiful place.

some days it feels like life is so heavy but today - yesterday there was a lightness in the air. 

the beauty of life broke through the clouds.

there is so much breath in this life. 

there is so much beauty in the details - in the encounters.

some times (i'm sad to say) it takes until the end of a transition for me to really step back and feel the beauty of it. 

to be grateful of the authentic people in my life.

to savor the fun found in being present - letting go.

to stay up way to late at a fiesta that costs more than my entire college education.

.dubb's bucket theory.

a weekend adventure to the highlands of central washington.

a rhythm & blues festival filled with 60 year old harley riders.

a sweltering heat that made you incapable of anything more than sitting in the river all day.

a 3am wake up from someone who enjoyed the festival a little too much.

a full moon that illuminated the field so bright it felt like malawi night.

a perfect weekend.

first things first, Blue Star coffee. 

Second stop is ALWAYS Cinnamon Twisp Bakery and then to Glover Street Natural Foods. Best Cinnamon roll EVER. and Caitlyn found herself a REAL cowboy (pictured behind her). WIN WIN!! 

the stage with my boy, Doug Macleod.

Mason jar meals...do as Methow Valleyans do.

homemade peach moonshine.

post-river pre-lunch

are we still in Malawi. breakfast fire squat cookin' n all.

breakfast. scone courtesy of caitlyn,

the neighbors...harely-ville.

We finished off the weekend with a set from Doug "Dubb" Macleod. He has this theory he calls the "dubb bucket theory" which is best heard in his own words, Dubb's Bucket Theory. It's worth the watch.

.the fourth.

happy late 4th of july. 

i took this holiday to take time to celebrate the freedoms of my life - reacquainting myself with what has been and what really is - asking the hard questions - consciously investing in what is true - evaluating the choices that i am making - the opportunities present - the new voice i am finding inside - the confidence to say what i want/feel/am - the awareness of self that has seemed to bloom inside of me this year - the ever evolving me.

i had such a summer weekend.

full of sunshine - bike rides with my favorite biking buddy - mid-morning cappuccinos - afternoons filled with public pool swimming/picnics - evening dining on patios - all topped off with a twilight criterium (the sound of cowbells are still ringing in my ears).

this weekend reminded me "that freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose" a common theme in my life. i have freedom - nothing left to lose. i'm in the transition of letting go of all that i'm "losing" - the truths that once were might not be true - not in a false sense but in the way that life is moving and the scenery around me is changing. 

big changes are coming my way. i'm at a crossroads to lose it all or find the greatest freedom. which is the same thing, it all on perspective. 

how will i choose to look at it? 

there is so much freedom in today. 
it's mind over matter. 
it's taking things slow. 
it's being present. 

are you finding freedom or loss in your life?

.a walk.

Oh weekends, you are a wonderful time to REJUVENATE! Especially with the sun shinning bright - spring is HERE! I've realized that since returning from Malawi - I NEED time outside - I CRAVE time outside. But with a desk job and a 30 minute lunch the weekends are GO time. This weekend I discovered a new trail.

Isn't is magical to find something new (especially in an old "known" place)?

I spent part of my Saturday there and then return on Sunday just to have a little more time exploring more. Then I received my copy the Rose Bakery (a bakery in Paris) cookbook in the mail!! A beautiful hardback book filled with rustic fonts and endearing, unpretentious photos. I have a desire to make every single recipe SO GOOD! So I started with the Honey Granola (see picture above!) Is anyone familiar with the Rose Bakery?

.peshastin pinnacles.

apples for days.

yes, we have matching fanny packs. <3

turquoise and sandstone.

not a cloud in the sky.

an old man?

there's my dream home...do you see it? the teepee on the right side? <3

My sister came for a visit this weekend. I haven't seen her in 8 months, but the beautiful thing about my sister is when we are together the time apart always melts away. We jumped right back into the conversation we ended before I left...life, philosophies, and the BIG question: what is next?? We are playing with the idea(s) of building a life of our own. After this weekend our conversations made the possibility seemed possible. 


I love this time. This transition period when there is a freshness and reacquaintance.


Days are flying by with Nana visits, garden fresh foodie adventures with my Mama (stuffed anaheim peppers?!?!), homesteading practicing, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and losing myself in the mile high pile of library books (libraries seriously? Might be the best thing ever?) but it feels good. 


I think right now it's my purpose to foster my heart, positivity, and regain my flow. 
And with this moment I'm finding a new flexibility within myself.


love.
------------
p.s. photos are from a short hike we took this weekend, peshastin pinnacles. Beautiful, short, and HOT. Highly recommended for all your Washingtonians and 509ers.